Moira Eileen Deirdre Wallace (nee Doyle), peacefully at her home in Bayfield, Ontario, in the presence of her daughter, Deirdre, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, just days before her 93rd birthday.
Daughter of Eileen (nee Brooks) and Francis Doyle and sister of Eugene Doyle and Monica Antipas. Survived by her son Andrew Wallace of Etobicoke, Ontario; daughter Deirdre Denholm (Gregg Denholm) of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; grandson Graeme Wallace (Rizalene); granddaughter Julia Wallace (Matt Schichter); and great grandson, Charles James Wallace. Beloved wife of Charles Wallace (who predeceased her in March of 2023), to whom she was married for almost 70 years.
Born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales December 9, 1930, she spent her early life in England and Wales looking after her younger brother and sister, attending school, enduring the depression, and the London Blitz during World War II. In the 1950s, Charles and Moira enjoyed the London nightlife with their friends, and she worked while Charles attended medical school. She and Andrew came to Canada in September 1961 to join her husband who was stationed at the RCAF base in Centralia as a doctor. They settled in Zurich, Ontario and Charles began his medical practice that would serve the local community for almost 50 years. Moira engaged in community life, making many new friends, and enjoying new activities such as figure skating at the Zurich arena, snowmobiling, skiing in winter, and swimming in Lake Huron in the summer.
A lover of cats and culture—especially fine art–she was well-read and well-travelled, making the most of all opportunities and experiences that came her way. Her hobbies included gardening, painting, photography, and cooking. She was intelligent and a woman of strong convictions who enjoyed feeding peanuts to the crows and squirrels in her back yard. Most of all she loved a good limerick!
When she could no longer care for Charles on her own, she showed her devotion by frequently driving from her home in Bayfield to visit him in the Blue Water Rest Home in Zurich. She endured the myriad Covid restrictions of forced isolation, testing, masking, and sanitizing to provide him with the love and stimulation that kept him alive until his passing, just 8 months before her own departure.
Moira will be dearly missed by her family and all who knew her.
A celebration of Moira’s life will be held in the Garden Room at Hessenland, 72981 Bluewater Highway (Highway 21), Zurich on Saturday, May 25, 2024, from 2 – 5 PM. Cremation with interment Bayfield Cemetery.
Donations in Moira’s memory may be made to Heart and Stroke Foundation or Bayfield’s Forgotten Feline’s (e-transfers accepted to bayfieldsforgottenfelines@gmail.com (but please fill out the form on the right side of the page)).
Those interested in adopting a cat and sharing the same love for feline’s as Moira are welcome to visit the Facebook page of Bayfield’s Forgotten Feline’s at https://www.facebook.com/groups/670030531294217/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT
We are always willing to go where called upon but this image shows a visual of the communities that our included in our initial transportation fee. We offer a 40km radius from any of our 5 locations (Arva (London), Exeter, Lucan, Seaforth, and Zurich). Any mileage beyond the included 40km will be charged a rate of $2.50/km (one way travel only).
Jeff O'Brien
Andrew and Deirdre,
I send my sympathy to you on the loss of your mother. I hope you know that your Mom and Dad had a significant impact on the little town of Zurich and Zurich was fortunate the Charles and Moira made it their home.
Donna OBrien
Andrew,DeAndre and loved one
Please accept my sincere sympathy in your loss of your lkind and caring mother. Hugs Donna
The Robey Family
Dear Deirdre, Andrew and Family,
It doesn’t feel so much as the loss of a dear friend to our family; it feels like the loss of a family member.
Our parents were fast friends starting in the early 1960s and Charles and Moira showed proof of an unwavering loyalty throughout the years – I still have Moira’s letters she wrote to my parents when planning to visit them in Rome in 1973 – letting them know she was expecting a rip-roaring time! And it was. So much energy, humour, culture and wisdom. On our second last visit to Bayfield, Moira was brushing up on her Latin! In our last conversation at the end of September she spoke with enthusiasm of her fantastic kids. Not just the passing of a person, the passing of an era.Love and condolences. The Robey Family.
Deborah Penhale
Your mother was such a compassionate woman and I had many talks with her over the years on a variety of topics.
However we had a bond when it came to cats!! When Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines was founded Moira became the eyes on the street and helped to track felines in need. She would let me know when and where a stray, sick or injured cat had been seen and would try to win their trust in order for them to be taken into care. She was a great friend of felines and a supporter of BFF. She donated to their care and in doing so helped many of Bayfield’s Forgotten Felines. It was during a conversation with her that the name of our rescue came to be . Thank you Moira from all of us at BFF🙏
Jo-Ann Thiel Boswell
Dear Deirdre and Andrew and families. My deepest sympathy in your loss of such a darling mother.
Rest in Peace Moira. To a life well lived and well loved.
Jo-Ann Thiel Boswell
Pam and Jonathan
Such a beautiful life: a combination of worldly knowledge and simple pleasures; enjoying personal hobbies and also serving others. May her legend live on through those who knew her.
Lisa De Rubeis
Deirdre,
So nice to learn more about your beautiful mum.
You inherited her love of culture, the arts and certainly cats!
Sending my heartfelt love and support to you, Gregg, Andrew and family as you work through your loss and grief.
Cass & Adrian
We have so many wonderful memories of Charles and Moira from over the years and they will both be missed greatly. Our condolences to Deirdre and Andrew at this time.
Nancy-Rae and Bob Lovie
Andrew, Deirdre and Families.
Our deepest condolences to you all at this sad time…Losing both your parents in such a short time apart is tough and just know that you’re all in our thoughts and prayers. Cherish the wonderful memories..
Debbie and Larry
Deepest sympathy Deirdre and Andrew and families, such a lovely lady, she will be missed by so many. It has been such a short time since your Dad’s passing and I know how much your Mom missed him, she was certainly a most devoted wife and we shared many chats last year when we would meet up at Bluewater. Cherish your memories and know how much we all care about you , Rest in peace Moira and Charles !!
Vicki Schroeder-Ducharme & Mike Ducharme
Deirdre, Andrew and Families:
So very sorry to hear of the passing of Moira. Was glad that we got a visit in for Dr. Wallace’s
celebration of life at Hessenland. Such a classy lady. Just know she is now together with Dr.
Wallace.
RIP Moira
Alma Westlake
Deirdre and Andrew;
A dear friend has passed! your Mom was a special lady. She will be missed.
Our sincere sympathy.
Robert and Alma
Brad & Anne Mousseau
To all Moira”s loved ones, our sincere condolences in your loss of an amazing, talented woman.
Pam Bedour
Dear Andrew, Deirdre & families,
I was so sorry to hear of your mom’s passing. She was a beautiful woman, and I remember (as a young girl) admiring her grace and her poise, which was still so evident whenever I saw her in later years. Losing a parent is hard, and losing them both within months is even harder. Sending my deepest sympathy and love to you all.
Pam O’Brien Bedour
Ken Johnson
A pleasure to have known and worked for them over many years. Fond memories and they left me many tales to tell. – Ken
Dianne De Wys and family
My heartfelt sympathy to Deirdre and Andrew and their families. Moira was truly an amazing lady and a wonderful friend. We all have great memories of time spent with her and will cherish them. She will be missed.
Lois and Doug Thiel
Sincere sympathy to Andrew,Deirdre and all of the family in the loss of your Mom,Grandma and Great Grandma. You will have many wonderful memories to share . We had a nice visit with her at Charles’ Celebration of Life at Hessenland. Condolences to her family.
Sincerely Lois and Doug Thiel
Jim Oesch
Sincere condolences for the Wallace family
evelyn Steckle Vincent
To Moira’s family
Sincere sympathy Such a huge loss in the same year
Mary Lou Erb
My deepest sympathy Andrew and Deirdre and your families
Those we love don’t go away , they walk beside us everyday
Unseen, unheard but always near , so loved ,so missed , so very dear
Mary Lou Erb
Richard & Brenda Schilbe
Andrew, Deirdre & families
Deepest sympathy to you both on the passing of your Mom. She was a wonderful woman & it was great to talk to her at your Dad’s celebration of life. Keeping you in our thoughts & prayers in the difficult days ahead.
Bob Oesch
So sorry for your loss. Condolences to the family.
Jane Gripper Troop
Sending all of the family my deepest condolences. Moria and Charles played a huge role in our lives as it was them who led us to Alliston after we moved to Canada in 1964, Dad (Nigel) is still there. I have such great memories of times at the little cottage on the lake and visits between Charles and Moria and Ruth and Nigel and us kids over the many years of their friendship. Moira was always very entertaining with her sense of humour and stories. I am so glad I took Mum and Dad to visit her on our last trip to “Ontario’s West Coast” 18 months ago. Cheers to a wonderful woman and life well lived.
Erryn Shephard
Sincere sympathy in the passing of your Mom. We have many great memories and lots of laughter.
Douglas and Barbara Shephard , and family,
Paul & Heather
We send lots of love to the whole Wallace family. First memories of Moira and Deirdre were those skating afternoons in the old Zurich arena …when the two moms would take the two little girls. Paul is closer to Andrew’s age.
Many, many years later we got to hear the limericks!! Moira and Dr. Wallace will spend this Christmas together while the rest of us have the gift of memories. Rest in Peace Moira…